what does it mean when it says 100% first year financial support?

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

I've been comparing schools that offer my major (Linguistics) using PhDs.org. Under the support column there is a part that says "first year students with full financial support." Now some schools have that listed at 100%. Some really good schools--MIT for example. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but does this mean that every student who gets accepted to their grad program in Linguistics gets the $36 thousand in tuition waived? It just sounds a little too good to be true.

[Quantum Buckyball]

I've been comparing schools that offer my major (Linguistics) using PhDs.org. Under the support column there is a part that says "first year students with full financial support." Now some schools have that listed at 100%. Some really good schools--MIT for example. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but does this mean that every student who gets accepted to their grad program in Linguistics gets the $36 thousand in tuition waived? It just sounds a little too good to be true.

Yes, tuition waiver + base TAship or RAship + premium health insurance coverage. It's like a job but without the retirement benefits and if you're and outstanding applicant you'll get bonus (extra pay) from a fellowship.

[juilletmercredi]

Most research PhDs cover your tuition and then provide you with a stipend (usually between $15,000 and $30,000 a year) plus health insurance in exchange for "20 hours a week" of research and teaching (realistically, it's more than that). I don't know if the health insurance is always premium, but my student health insurance is actually pretty good.

[MaxiJaz]

Yep...my program is like that too. Sounds great...till we're off on our own looking for funding for the next year.

[funology]

As the others have said, checking out the programs websites for what schools generally offer in terms of financial aid packages. Typically a school's enrollment is constrained by funding (which means that if you get in, you usually get fellowships)

If you have specific or general questions regarding linguistics, there's always the forum here and you can feel free to PM me.

[ANDS!]

For most schools tuition is such a small part of their operating income, I'd be surprised to find a program where students weren't getting full tuition waivers (not talking about the "admitted but unfunded" folks).

[Sigaba]

IMO, one should always go to the source for confirmation, get an answer, and then get that answer verified, rather than relying on parties for such important information. (This is the most important lesson one learns attending the University of California. "No, you're in the wrong line, you want to be in that line." "But I was told to be in this line by someone working in that line." "Well, they were wrong. You need to be in that line." [Get back in line.] "Yeah, this is the right line after all. How about that.")

YMMV.

Edited June 30, 2012 by Sigaba